Dynamics CRM/xRM in Australia

Are you a Microsoft Dynamics CRM partner, or working towards that? Are you keen to make sure your organisation meet the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) CRM Competency requirements by October 2010?

Check out the *ALL NEW* and *UNIQUE* blended training and exam preparation program on Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 by Advanced Training. Or see the full post on this from the Microsoft Australia Readiness and Training Blog.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/auspartnertraining/archive/2010/08/11/microsoft-dynamics-crm-4-0-blended-training-amp-exam-preparation-program-by-advanced-training.aspx

Cheers, Ross

Press Release

Microsoft provides a flexible and integrated CRM solution while focusing on delivering a clear product vision and innovation. http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2010/aug10/08-04DynamicsCRMPR.mspx?rss_fdn=Press%20Releases

Gartner placed it as a Leader in the Magic Quadrant for Sales Force Automation (July 2010) report. http://www.gartner.com/technology/media-products/reprints/microsoft/vol10/article18/article18.html 

Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Sales Force Automation evaluates vendors on their ability to execute and completeness of vision. Evaluation criteria weighed for each included product/service, overall viability, sales execution/pricing, customer experience and operations, and offering (product) strategy, business model, innovation and geographic strategy, respectively.

According to Gartner, “Vendors placed in the Leaders quadrant of Gartner’s Sales Force Automation Magic Quadrant demonstrate a market-defining vision of how technology can help the top sales executives achieve business objectives. Leaders have the ability to execute against that vision through products, services and demonstrated solid business results in the form of revenue and earnings. Leaders have significant successful customer deployments in North America, EMEA and Asia/Pacific in a wide variety of vertical industries with multiple proof points above 500 users.”

This is VERY exciting and a strong independent endorsement for the work we’re doping at Microsoft in the CRM market. With the upcoming release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, customers will reach new levels of productivity and collaboration with a low total cost of ownership, and partners will unlock new opportunities with a single development environment for cloud-based and on-premises deployments.

Cheers, Ross

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Premier Field Engineering team has released a podcast regarding Update Rollups, specifically Update Rollup 12.  In the Podcast they describe how CRM Update Rollups are produced, how they work, popular methods of client rollup deployment, and the need for testing any changes in your pre-production environments before introducing change into your production environments.

If you’re interested, the podcast by Greg Nichols is available via  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pfedynamics/2010/08/10/microsoft-dynamics-crm-40-update-rollup-12-podcast

Cheers, Ross

Update Rollup 12 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 is available. This article describes the hotfixes and the updates that are included in this update rollup. This update rollup is available for all languages that are supported by Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=2028381

Cheers, Ross

These are online on the Internet now. A really great way to see and learn about Dynamics CRM 2011 today.

• [DYN03] Next Generation Business Applications in the Cloud: Microsoft Redefines the Delivery of Business Solutions

  Join CRM Product Marketing General Manager, Brad Wilson and Dynamics Partner Strategy Director, Kim Smith as they introduce you to the next generation of Customer Relationship Management solutions -- Microsoft Dynamics CRM 5. In this session, see firsthand the exciting new release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, how Microsoft is changing the way that customers think about business applications. We also explore how partners from all backgrounds have built lucrative business practices -- both in the cloud and inside the firewall with the support of Microsoft Dynamics CRM partner programs.
  http://digitalwpc.com/Videos/AllVideos/Permalink/c0bbe4d6-0ec3-4bc4-a884-9ed7ba14ac96
  

• [DYN12] Microsoft Dynamics CRM in the Cloud: How Partners are Winning Business with Microsoft Dynamics, SharePoint and BPOS

  Interested in learning more about Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online and Cloud strategy and how you will win with the cloud model? Attend this session for visibility into all these topics and gain insight about the 2010 launch of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online International and the Microsoft CRM Online roadmap. We also discuss how successful partners have built a business based on Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online and discuss best practices to better understand how to best drive business success in the cloud. Our session includes presentations from partners who have already made the (lucrative) leap into the Cloud
  http://digitalwpc.com/Videos/AllVideos/Permalink/a98d96cb-96bc-406c-8f5d-d58995abdd70
  

• [DYN15] Taking the Covers Off of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 5

  Join in this hour-long exploration of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 5 and see for yourself what all the excitement is about! We dive deep into the new product, discuss strategies for managing upgrades and explore all the opportunities to make the most of this exciting new release. If you’re a long-time Microsoft Dynamics CRM partner, or a BPOS or SharePoint partner looking to engage in the CRM space, this is a session you won’t want to miss.
  http://digitalwpc.com/Videos/AllVideos/Permalink/f9625bd7-7009-4bed-ab7a-c3fbb548d6ac

Cheers, Ross